Idea of the Day! Retention Ponds!

We are playing a bit of catch up here today folks - not because there is a lack of ideas, but rather because the ideas are now coming in fast and furious!

A key issue for the newly developing agricultural sector will be the need for water for irrigation. Cane can rely on being rainfed, but new food crops will need water.

The full water system in Trinidad will not be immediately able to address these needs, so other alternatives should be considered. The over all rainfall for T&T is quite high, and with Climate Change predictions of more rainfall, but with increasing intensity, there are significant concerns about erosion and how the rain can be harvested.

We've addressed this earlier, however, for agriculture, retention ponds, with over flow areas and trees planted to reduce wind and sun based evaporation could be real solution!!

The soil in the Caroni lands with the heavy clay soil are excellent for retention ponds and can provide some much needed havens for beneficial wildlife as well. It's a win-win situation!

Idea of the Day! Dig a Swale

The rainy dry season is inspirational around here. 

Water rushing down channels isn't getting into the aquifers and instead everything every where is paved... or at least it seems that way.

When putting in new developments, for agriculture, housing, industry, or other building sites, why not put in swales. Swales capture surface run off and send it into the aquifers, both nourishing soils and reducing erosion. The berms make great fertile planting beds too!

They cost almost nothing and can have a big impact on the potable water availability throughout the country.

For more information on how to do this see wikihow's How to dig a swale

Idea of the Day! COCOA!

We spent a great day at the Coffee an Cocoa Research Center as part of the Roundtable for Sustainable Cocoa Economy meeting. At the field trip we learned about how cocoa is grown, different varieties, how it is processed, graded and some of the challenges that impact cocoa. (Witches broom = bad)

Our field trip was informative and gave each of the team a chance to get a feel for what is needed for cocoa cultivation. Trinidad produces very high grade "fine" cocoa which was described in symphonic terms by one of the experts from the Roundtable.  And it draws much higher prices on the market than bulk cocoas. 

From our informal interviews with the experts from the Roundtable, cocoa as a cash crop for Trinidad has a promising future. Demand remains steady throughout economic ups and downs, and is due to increase as chocolate becomes more broadly consumed in China and India.

Environmentally, cocoa requires a good deal of water, but because it can be intercropped with other sustenance crops, and produces a lot of good mulching materials it can be a good crop and potentially quite lucrative. 

Thanks to the Roundtable for a Sustainable Cocoa Economy, and the organizers for a great day!!

 

Idea of the Day! RAIN BARRELS!

Today's great idea came from a Friend of the SEA who suggested that rain barrels should be distributed to households with guttering to capture rainwater. 

Used throughout the Caribbean to capture rainwater in areas with less rainfall or brackish groundwater, rain barrels can play and important role in providing water during the dry season to water household gardens, wash cars, wash clothes, and used for toilet water. It's also great for washing your hair with!

You can watch a video on how to make a rain barrel system here.

And of course wikipedia has a lot to say here.

Simple, easy to install, and if enough people would use them, flooding could be reduced and valuable water resources could be conserved!!

Do you have an idea of the day? Please send to dr.mary.matthews@gmail.com